UK Ancestry Visa - Help Please

I am soooo confused. I filled in an application online in February but didn't submit it, and now when I go back online to do it again it has changed ! It is now asking me all kinds of information about income, jobs etc. Does anyone know why this is?

I called Worldbridge who wasted my $12 very quickly - tried calling the UK, calling Ottawa and no one will answer ANY questions ! omg this is so frustrating - I got a UK Ancestry Visa about 10 years ago and it was a cake walk compared to today -sigh

One more question - in the FAQ it says 'can I work' and the response is 'you need to be intending to seek employment before you can be applicable for this category' or something vague like that - I thought the whole purpose of the UK Ancestry Visa was to work there!

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

PS Is it true you have to have certified bank statements?

The reason the application changed (because I know this happened myself, having filled out part of an application months ago to see what I had to prepare for) is because it isn't actually a finalized process yet. They're still changing some things around trying to make it go smoother, or whatnot. Just go through the form and all will be fine, I actually found this new form somewhat easier than the old one.

For the "You need to be able to work" category--write a letter of intent saying that you will be looking for a job upon arrival, and show that you have a good chance of GETTING said job.

Also, I have no sent in certified bank statements, nor has a couple of other people. One girl I know who has been approved sent in a letter from her bank manager which seemed to do fine. I think you just have to prove the statements are real.

Good luck!

No you dont need bank statements, but they will help

As for the rest, im not sure.we went thru hell getting ours sorted n out the way.just so glad its over!

Thanks for the info Calster and Tigerlea. I didn't even think bank statements were required to go with the documentation at all until I started reading everyone's posts.

Does anyone know what happens if you put your proposed date to enter as June for example, and then you don't end up going for 6 months. Would that invalidate the visa, or can you go anytime within the 5 year window? ie go after 1 year of getting the visa.?

I vaguely remember there being a time window for you to go in after that date of a month or two or something, it says it on the government websites x-X

Er. I was just speaking with my friend, and they screwed up on the date for hers. Her visa was validated for March 31st, and they said (when she called Ottawa) that she had to arrive in England by April 20th. So that's about two weeks-ish. Nearly 3. But still. In other words, don't apply until you're actually planning on leaving.

EDIT: My friend called up the consolates, basically freaking on her visa. The one in Ottawa and the UK both said she had FIVE weeks to land in the UK. So that's how long you have, 5 weeks, but you can get it post-dated up to 3 months in advance. But as stated already, don't apply 'til close to the date you wanna move. About 2 weeks in advance.

i know this doesnt make me sound reliable but two weeks sounds right now, but if you apply n make sure your dates right then you should be ok.

My partner sent a copy of his plane ticket and the date his visa becomes active is about a week before the date we gave them

Thanks again for the great info Calster and Tigerlea. I didn't even think about this before either - I don't find the website very helpful - the only thing I found was from the FAQ page on the British High Commission was:

If my travel plans are delayed, can the validity of my visa be changed?
No, except where there are compelling compassionate circumstances. Otherwise you should apply for another visa.

But that doesn't seem necessarily connected to the UK Ancestry Visa either.

Have you guys figured out how it works when your passport expires (if our passports are valid for 5 years and visas for 5 years it is likely we will need to get the visa transferred. The only thing I found from the FAQ was clear as mud again lol

What do I do if my expired passport has a valid entry clearance in it?
Please note that we are only able to assist you if you are presently in Canada. You must have your valid entry clearance transferred to your new passport. Please read our Applying for a Visa page for information about our new visa procedures.
If our office did not issue your original entry clearance there may be delays with your application as we may have to make enquiries to the issuing office. This process may take several weeks. Also, depending on the circumstances of transferring your entry clearance to your new passport, you may be required to pay the entry clearance fee again. Please contact our Ottawa office for further information.

The advice thats generally given is to get a new passport before you apply if yours isnt going to last out the visa

Thanks Calster - I didn't think I had to do that as I thought most people's expire - I guess that is one more thing to do You are all such a great source of info ! Thanks very much